Chapter 0016

Ryder

Alexis stood beside me as we navigated through the crowded room. She was particular about keeping up ‘the happy home facade’ in public.

“Don't be a snub and ruin the party for me,” she hissed, pulling my hand forcefully around her waist.

I planted a smile on my face as we exchanged greetings with a few friends of ours.

The room was packed full of prominent wolves across the realm. I had sighted Trevor earlier in the crowd, but he wasn't the reason I was there.

I hated parties like this. Hated the pretence of happiness and perfection. I would have rather stayed home with Alim, playing crossword puzzles.

That was Alim’s new obsession. Every week, he finds something new to obsess about. First, it was learning a difficult word and jotting it down in his journal.

But Alpha Orin had requested my presence today and I couldn't refuse. He was a member of the council and my father's best friend before he died. Orin was the closest thing I had to a father figure.

It would be